This morning I was just checking my phone. Just as usual… First my WhatsApp messages and statuses and then my FB feed. And I realized something nice. Half of my statuses and feed is filled with various types of blue and yellow posts and pictures. Posts of Mahamaya Girls’ College, Kandy. That is when I realized that half of my friends are from my school and the other half is from this College.
So as a tribute to my Mayan friends I decided to write an article for them who are celebrating the 89th Anniversary of their school.
I am not a Mayan. But since the days I was schooling, I had memories that are related to this school. And this is common for everyone who lives in Kandy.
Whenever we see the white uniform with the blue buckle we don’t need additional explanations and descriptions. We all know that she is a student from Mahamaya Girls’ College Kandy.
And on their 89th Anniversary, I thought it would be interesting to dig a little deeper about how this College was established.
So it runs back to 1932. This College was established due to the inspiration of Sadhachara Kulangana Samithiya a society of Nobel ladies who lived in Kandy. And Mrs. Chitravo Ratwatte and Lady Sarah Soysa took the first steps to build this College. They had the desperate need of having a proper education institute for the Buddhist girls in Kandy. And the college started on 14th January 1989 with sixteen girls under the name of “Buddhist Ladies College“.
They chose land in front of the aquatic Kandy lake and bought one hectare from Anagarika Dharmapala and combined the lands which were bought from Arthur Fernando. Also, Anagarika Dharmapala, D.B. Jayathilake as well as C.W.W. Kannangara contributed to the school.
The school that started with the West Cliff Bungalow classroom eventually grew up. And in 1938 the school got its current name “Mahamaya Girls’ College Kandy”. The school became a national school. And then got a fully facilitated auditorium as well as a swimming pool.
The school that started with 16 students cater to more than 3,000 students in the present.
Also, it is a known fact that Mayans are extraordinary when it comes to studies. We see some top ranks in the results sheets in A/L and O/L examinations every year.
Not only studies but also extracurricular activities. Especially when it comes to sports like Swimming. Mahamaya Girls College, Kandy has one of the best swimming teams in Sri Lanka.
Since then Mother Mahamaya did a great job creating the finest talented ladies. And I think I will need some extra pages to put on the list of the old girls of Mahamaya who are at higher positions in both Sri Lankan and International companies proving that they have obeyed their Moto “Knowledge is Supreme”
So cheers on your birthday! May you be blessed to create more and more talented and beautiful ladies in the future.
Shamani Ekanayaka.
A True Hillwoodian in Heart